Pieces by Tania Radda. From left to right Sweet Tea (2008), Pearl Tea (2007), Garden Fun Tea (2009). Wooden teapots.

From tables to teapots,the  contemporary woodworks the exhibit “Far Side of Function” are certainly worth a look. Located at the Dairy Barn Arts Center, this timbered art show is taking place throughout October and November and features a fantastical array of arranged and carved wooden pieces.

Surreal imaginings greet the eye as one approaches the Dairy Barn – chair-growing trees. Just as surreal as this piece, the entire exhibit presents strange other-worldly happenings made from the forest’s medium. More pieces reside on the outside of the main exhibit. Stretching all across the lawn, artist Hisham Youssef created giant works of wooden art. One piece consists of a giant American Gladiator sphere, and the other a twisted, roller-coaster type piece. Inside reside even more homages to the trees.

The natural wood feel gives the audience opportunities to experience the art in a different way. One of the artists, Tania Radda, said it best. “These sculptures take on life-like forms derived from nature, where insects, plants and animals are presented in larger scale, enabling the viewer to experience a different perspective,” she said.

The most popular item is “Burning” by Craig Nutt. “Burning” is a contemporary chair clad with oil paint acrylic and lacquer on carved wood. The chair sports roasted red peppers as the legs and arms and the back is a flaming burst. A sensational and exceptionally imaginative piece, it is also the most expensive, rang up to $40,000.

Other pieces include logs with planks shoved in them, handcrafted plungers, tea pots, life-size Stonehenge chairs and precisely hand-crafted milk bottles and ladles. One artist, Gary Knox Bennett, specializes in wooden light fixtures made of bamboo.

Along with the curated portion of the exhibit, some Ohio artists also give an educational look at the art of woodturning, complete with demonstration on the construction of woodturning pieces. One such artist, Brent Hanning, specializes in segmented bowls and vessels.

All of the artists put years of dedication into their work. Betty Scarpino expresses herself through her pieces “Rock My Boat” and “Cave Dweller.” “As I cut, carve, sand and texture, I am living my life,” she said.

With items that touch on surreal and furniture living from fantasy, the Dairy Barn is able to give an audience a fantastic expression of what modern art is all about through nature’s personal medium.

“Far Side of Function: Contemporary Wood Structure” will be exhibited at the Dairy Barn until November 22.

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